Dirigible headlight



Feb. 25, 1930. T'. c. HoLLlDAY 1,748,769

` DIRIGIBLE HEADLIGHT Filed Ma-ICh 24, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l 8 |NVENTOR MM5/ ATTORNEY- Feb. 25, 1930. T, C, HOLUDA'Y 1,748,769

DIRIGIBLE HEADLIGHT Filed March 24, 1928 2 sheets-sneer 2 lNvENTR 5 55 BY A aww MMM 5* n, ATTORNEY Patented Feb; 25, 1930 A 4frnoivras o.r HGLLIVDAY, or "Monson,-iaississrrrn assienon'dfro QnoLL'inAY Linn ,sAvnge HnAnLieH-T'oorrrany; or'arienson,wivirssssirrnn oonronATroNgory r`ninfa,I'i'annffnErinitiefii l -iippiieaaon mea March 24,*1e2a seriai ivo. 264,316. .v y

s This 'invention relates to a dirigible vehicle Y* light or head light and morelparticularly to av vehicle vlight of this V'character designed,

' equipped and Which'is hydraulically operated" from the rsteering gear of thefvehi'cl'eV in simple' and eectivey manner to illuminate the ily and yeasily disconnected from its fauto-rvr fmatic hydraulic drive `and manually'rotated ladapted'and-"controlled to follow automati! cally the V'curves of the road over yWl'ii'ohmthe vehicle is travelling.- Y One of the principal obj eetsof the presentv *invention is to provide an auxiliaryvehiole -lightof thischaracter in'addition to the headlights'- with which the vehiclegis ordinarily road properlylvvhen rounding curves. lWhen desired,v the auxiliary headlight may-be vreadthrough any desiredangular interval to'provide a trouble -light Afor illuminating 'the poWer plant of thelv'ehicle or for affording illumination to faoilitatevthe changingof a f tire orthe like at night.`

, #Another object is to provide a-hydraulically operated Svehiclelight or head light ofy this character Whiohf isfso organized: Withv the steeringgearlof the vehicle that only so much i occurring Without its being'impartedtothe hydraulicmechanism or' to the"y :auxiliary Y Y ofthe motion ofthe steering gear isutilized as is necessary-to yproperly turnY the head light, ythe motion'` ofthe steeringgearfin en cess of that required for the operation of the light being substantially unrestrained and iight.

In generahthefobjeot ofthei'nventionislto `profvideadirigible'V head light Whichis'ex tremelyfsimple'ad durable, Which is reliable and eifective in operation, Which lend'sitself to economicalA manufacture, and `Whichv 1s c adaptedv forzinst'allation; and' use upon 'various makes ofcars Without any changes in-its con;y

' auxiliary head light or vehicle lightisprof vided and is Supported on'anyf'su'itable or de-r struction or design,` K l l l, In carrying out the presentmventlon', an

sirablepart of the vehiele,-`

A -novel mounting isf'provided for Vthehead light'which normally holds it straight ahead but which permits it to be turned; to follow the road as the vehicle moves around curves.

mounted on `thefront axle and operated from the tie-rod ofthe steering. gear. Preferably the pump includes a cylinder and a pair of opp-ositely disposed pistons iittedlin the cyl-v ments to the tie rod. 4Springs' in thev ends'of V'the cylinder operate to hold the-pistons engaged with the interposed endy of the lever;

vThe ends ofthe `pistons'engagedwith theactuatinglever are reduced or beveled sothat only so much-of the motion of the tie .rod

Will be vimparted to `the pistons as is neces-v not positively actuated f by the actuating lever. p' l y* On the mountingof the vhead light, afluid pressure motor is carried and also includes a v YThey means employed for automatically, turning the light includesa steeringgear opverated yfluid pressure pumpV which may be Y sary-toproperly operate the same. l'Arstop is Y 'l provided for limiting the motion of thepiston cylinder and -a pair-of oppos'itely disposed pistons fitted therein. Means is provided fort-ransmitting motion fromrthe motorpistoiis 'tothe auxiliary headlight and may comprise a lever'fulcrumed on the cylinder? and hav-ingone*V end interposed between and actuatedby the pistons', .the opposite: endl of` the lever ,carrying a pinwvhich fits in Va slotforme'd in v an armfixed tothe auxiliary head light cas- With their lever'by means of springs J.and aire actuated from the pumpbyv fluid pressureex-` 910 i y.ertedfthrou ;h pipe lines whichV connectithe I vFor maintaining the v proper of op-i erating fluid in thehydraulic system, vanv auxr.

iliary reservoir is mountedona convenienty Apartof the vehicle and hasfvalve controlled pipe lines leading to the ends ofthe pump ing. The motor pistons 'are.y 'l1e'ld-engaged cylinder.Y In this auxiliaryreserv'oir, a force s feed'deyice ishad for forcing the lfluid into the pumpA cylinder and for maintaining a pressure thereon when desired.

The mounting oi" the auXiliary light and its connection with the motor permit it to Vbe adjusted manually for use as a trouble light.

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features or' the construction, arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter morefully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of -this specilication, and in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating how the light embodying the present invention is organized witha motor vehicle such as an automobile;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in 'front elevation illustrating the head light `mounted on the brace rod between the head lights ordinarilyv employed Figure 3 is a View partly in side 'elevation and partly in central vertical longitudinal section further illustrating the parts shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section illustrating the construction of the pump;

`Figure 5 is a view in section taken on line 55 of Figure 4, partsbeing shown in elevation for the sake of simplicity in illustration;

Figure 6 is a detail view partly in section and-partly in elevation illustrating the construction of a pump piston;

Figure 7 is a detail view partlyin horizontal section and partly in top Yplan illustrating the construction ot the fluid pressure motor Y employed A Figure 8'is a detail view in elevation illustrating the construction'of one of the motor pistons;

Figure 9 is a detail view in section on line 9-9 oi' Figure 3; Y

Figure 10 is a similar view insection on line10-10 of Figure 3;

VFigure 11 is a fragmentary view partly in .section and partly in elevation illustrating thedevice as used as a trouble light;

Figure 12 is a bottom plan view ot the auxiliary reservoir; and A Figure 13 is a view showing the auxiliary reservoir partly inside elevation and partly in vertical section. In Figure 1 of the drawings portions of ja motor vehicle such as an automobile are illustrated diagrammatically, 1 designating the engine, 2V the front axle. 3 the tie rod ot thesteering gear7 4 the radiator. 5 the head lights and 6 thebrace rod extending between the head lights.

The auxiliary vehicle light Vor dirigible head light of the vpresent inventionis designated generally at 10 and may be of any ccnventional or suitable construction. As shown in yFigures 2 and 3 the light 10 has a casing 11 within which a reflector 12 and a reflector and bulb mounting 13 are provided. An electric bulb 14 is provided in accordance with the usual practice. A lensl completes the equipment of the auxiliary head light.

A post 16 is secured to the head light casing and the same means employed for attaching the post to the casing may also be: utilized for securing a slotted arm 17thereto. For this purpose the upper end olf the post 16 is provided with-a reduced extensionA 18 which passes through'an opening in the arm17" and through anV opening in the lower portion of the casing 11. lWashers 19 may be provided between the arm 17 and the shoulder on the post 16 pr sented at the juncture ,of the reduced Vextension 18 and themain portion of. the post. Nit-hin the casing, a nut 2O is threaded on the reduced extension 18, a lock washer 21 being interposed between the nut y V and the inside wall of the casing. lVlhen the nut 2O is tightenedV up, it firmly clamps both the arm 17 and the post 16 to thecasing.` The post 16 is rotatably fitted in a bearing sleeve 22. `The. upper end of this bearing sleeve' 22 has downwardly inclined portions 23 terminating in a notch 24 located in between the'lower ends of the downwardly inclined portions 23. A laterally projecting projectionor `pin 25 is i'iXed to the post 16 and normally rides on the upper end of the bearing sleeve 22. The Apost 16 is urged downwardly to maintain its pin'254 engaged with the upper end of the bearing'sleeve 22 by meansvof a compression coil spring 26 encircling a reduced extension27 provided at the lower end of the post. One end of this spring 27 engages a washer 28 loose on the exten-sion 27 and abutting the lower end of the sleeve 22 while the other end of the spring engages a nut and washer assembly 29 adjustably secured on the lower end ofthe reduced eXtension 27 to provide an adjustable abutment for the lower end ot the spring 26 whereby the spring may be appropriately compressed. Vith this arrangement the pin 25 is held engaged with the lower ends of theV downwardly inclined portions 23 just above the notch 24. As the pin 25 is slightly larger than the notch, it cannot fit down thereinto and the arrangement automatically takesup wear and prevents undesirable vibration rof the Yauxiliary light.

The vbea-ring sleeve22 is clamped rigidly in a tubular bracket 30hy means of a clamping bar 31 (see Figure 9) positioned in atransverse opening 32 formed in the bracket 30 and partially intersecting the opening which receives the sleeve 22. This clamping bar 31 has va curved camming portion 33 designed to enter into bindingengagement with the periphery otA the bearing sleeve 22 and to force the bar 31 into binding engagement with-the wall of its opening32 under the inluence of a nut 34 threaded on one end of the ybar 31 and bearing against the adjacent rside yof the: tubular bracket k30. The `brafcket f 30l maybe m-ounted'on any desirable part of the vehicle and is shown as beingcla'mped to the brace rod'f6,'the ybracket having ajclamping member -35 integrally formed therewith. Y A

, co-operable clamping memberf 36 isprovided and Acoacts with the clamping-member35 to secure the bracket 30 to thebra'ce rod-6 under 29.' The'portion'of.the'.post161b'elow'the v road comprises in general apump'designated Ahead light and above theibearing sleeve yand also the upper endiof the. bearing -sleeve are enclosed'by' .telescoping collars 17 and 22 Y relatively rotatable 'andjvcarried bythe arm l17 fand sleeve 22, respectively. y f

They :means for' automatically turning,l the lamp with the steering wheels of the vehicle to'cause `the :lamp tofollow the-turnsin the .generally atk P operated 'from'the tierod'S,`

a motor designated'generallyat M and. connected with thelight 10, conduits Aor pipelines C randCfconnecting the pulnpfandrthe motor, jand aniauxiliary reservoirR.

f -The pump P comprisesia cylinder'40 maybe Aclamped tothe Vfront axle by Uebolts and-.nuts 41 (see'liigur'e 1). Inthe cylinder y40,`oppositely disposed pistons 42 and 43 are provided (see Figure 4)". Thesefpistons fare klv$24.0 Y

- ed shank engaged with the threaded'socket of screw 49 holds the ftal displacement.

`Motion transmissionmeans is provided betweenV the tie rod 3and the pistons 42 and 43 v and may comprise an actuating lever 5() ,havl

of'ideritical construction and asshownin Figl ure 6i each comprises a bodyifporti1on-44 yhaving fone end reduced or beveled as 'at 45,r andk having a cup "I washer of' 'leather designated at 4t` efastened to 'itsfotherf end by means of a metallic 'flwasher 47 and a"1shouldered screw 48,f.the"screw having 4its-"shoulder bearing against the-*washer 47 vand havingits threadthe piston-L Aftransverstdy extending lock i ing an intermediate portion fulcrumed asy at i i eled ends of the 'pistons 42 and 43.@ e p On the ends of Ythe 'cylinderj capsl 54 are 51' on integral extensions `52' ofthe cylinder.

y between the extensions the cylinder is slot!y ted as shown in Figure 5to vprovide the oper` V ."ating clearance forthelever 50. The inner end of the leverhas a l'f-shaped'head 53 in'te- 'y gral therewith and-this T-shaped head 4is'interposedfb'etween andengaged withl the bev-` threaded and these caps-54' serve lnotonly as closures forthe ends ofthe cylinder, but also as abutments for compression' coil springs. 55 and 56,ithe-springs fand '56 abutting the pistons 42-and 43 and operating to maintain the pistons engaged with the T-shaped head of the actuatinglever.l The endof the actu` ating lever opposite the head 53is Aprovided screw 48 against accidenchains V58 with lugs 59 fastened tothe tie rod;v 3

Thus, whenever the tie rodshifts, as it does wheneverjthe Avehicle is steered aroundv M'curvefthe lever,` 50 is swung to displace one or'theother Vof the pistons 42` vor 43-tow`ard its endfof thev cylinder K and .against the Vvaction r:of-its spring toexpel the liquid `or-fluid y y K from suchfendofthe cylinder and through: the influence 'of clampingserews v37; `f l:The f the conduit CorC into one 'endof theicylin-l portion'ofthepost 16 belowithe bearing sleeve and the parts thereon "are enclosed' by a capk der 60 ofthe motorM;` y n .In the .cylinder '.60 f of the motor M oppo-H sitely disposed pistons Gland 62 arealso pro-V vided (seeFigure 7 andare constructed'exactly-'like vthe pistons 42'and 4.3 exceptjthat their innerends-need not beso pronounced.` ly beveled.. In between thejinner endsl of, thesepistons 61. and 562 a rounded liead`64 of aidrivenlever:designatedV generallyat 65is L interposed. .This -leve'r165'iis fulcrumed as at 66. on` an extension ofthe cylinder 60 and operates through a slot 67 pro'videdin this extension:l At `its forward.: endl the lever 65 earries'an upwardly projecting pin l68which lis' operatively iitted inislot. 69formed in arm.

to maintain the pistons'tl"` and'y 62 engaged with the 'rounded headx'64 of the lever 65 Vas shownin Figure :7

Forthepurpose of maintaining the proper l.

supply of7 oil or,VK other luidinthe system of i the hydraulic mechanism, anv auxiliary reservoir designated-at 8O is provided andvfmay' have ian integral" attaching bracket` 811 bolted as at8v2 to theengine block (seeFigure 1);?

l This reservoir has valve'controlledilexible'- vrsupplylines 83 Vleadingflthe'refromi tol the.l t

oppositew ends ofzthepump v cylinder 40 (see Figures l, 13`and 14). A filling passage 84 is provided y.on the reservoir 8OV and com' VYmunicates at its loweend with the bottomofthe reservoir? The inlet of this passage- 84 isclosed l byfaremovablelling. plug 85.' i Althoughfthe. oilmaygbe supplied to thel .y

hydraulic system`rv under gravity '.-fe'edbv supportingthereservoir above thelevel o the pump P and-motor -M, it may-bedesir.- y able to' haveafforee feed' or to have the` oil in the hydraulicz system underpress'ure and provisioni is made for these features byvfitting a pistonA or follower 87in the reservoir 80j'and controlling vthis ,follower 87by 'Y v feed screw 88wswivelledto .the follower'` andy Y threadedly engaged with'a removable head Y 89 vatthe upper/end ofthe reservoir. `lmurledhead 9() `at the upper end of thefeed screw or other suitable means may beprovided to facilitate turning of the feed screw .When gravity feed isemployedthe reservoir After thefsystem 'has been filled the is provided with a vent V. When :torce feedV is utilized, this vent V is pluggedup.

In operation when the steering wheels are turned to make a right hand turn, the tie rod 3 moves to the left as viewed in Figure 1. This swings the lever 5() in a clockwise direction and positively orces thepiston 43 to the right thus expelling the oiltrom the right hand end of the pump cylinder 4() through the conduit C into the letthand end of the motor cylinder 60 and moving the piston 62 in the pump cylinder to the right, thus swinging the lever 65 in a counterclockwise direction and rotatingthe auxiliaryV light to' the right (all as viewedv in vFigure 1) so that the light 10 follows the curve of the road. 1

This action of the piston 43' whereby it acts on the oil to cause it to exert pressure on and move the piston 62 of the motor M is facilitated by theV piston 42 which'moving' inwardly -under the influence of its spring 56 draws the oil from the end of the motor cylinder` 60 in which the piston 61 is located V(the right hand end in Figure 1 andthe left hand end in Figure 7) Yand into tlie'letV hand end of the pump cylinder (as viewed in Figure 1) thereby decreasing the resistance which the piston. 61 presents to the -tubing for the sake of simplicity in illusfV tration.

Frequently. the steering ofthe vehicle re-I quires that the tie rod 3 partake ot' a movement of much greater amplitude than it is possible or practical to impart to the pistons of a hydraulic mechanism or to a light operated thereby and in order Yto utilize this tic rod 3 to actuate the pistons and yet dispose ot this excessive motion, the pistons 42 and 43 have their ends reduced or beveled as described, which permitot continued movement ot the actuating lever without any further movement of the pistons' after the pistons have been moved as tar as they needy This is'7illustratedin dotted-lines in Figure 4.Y VWhen the front wheels'ot the car ared facingstraight ahead, the lever isy positioned as shown in Figure 1 and the ends of the T-shaped head 53 engage the tlat reduced extremities ot the beveled ends 45 of the pistons 42 and 43. Now, it the tie rod 3 is moved to the right as viewed in Figure 1 (as it is in making a lett'hand turn) the lever 50 is swung in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figures 1 and 4. In therst stages off'this movement,

-one end of the head 53 pushes the piston 42 towardl its .endcap 54 and this continues until the piston 42 has been moved through the properY distance Vat which time, it' the lever() is still being swung, thev hea`dv53 of the lever slides ott1 the flatinner eXtremity of the piston 42 and ontofthe bevelled surface thereof thereby holding the piston 40 advanced but not imparting any further movementV thereto. The spring 56 causes theV piston 43 to follow the piston 42 as long as movement is being impartedy to the flatter but when the head 53 rides onto the bevelled n end` of the piston 42 then the piston 43 engages Vand is `held against a stop S projecting into the cylinder 40. Upon reverse movement of the tie rod the pistons are'reversely operated in this manner. The piston travel is thus held withinl the proper limits even though the tie rod 3,7parta'kes.

of a much greater movement.

In order to utilize the light 10 asa trouble light, it ismerely necessary to pull the same upwardlyto disengage the slot 69 ot the arm. from the pin 68.VV Then by rotating the light` 10 the flange 95, integral with the armY 17, will be positioned to bear on the pin 68,as shown in Figure 11. This supports the head light 10 elevated and holds it inany angular adjustment that may be desirable.l If the` light 10 is elevated and rotatedA thioughl()D it will throw suiticient'light throughfthe radiator to illuminate the power plantor engine. By elevating and angling thelight so that its beam just clears one side orV the other of the radiator illumination is afforded to facilitate changing at night of a tire on that side of the vehicle to which the beam of light -A isdirected. j

The needle valves N incorporated in the supply lilies 83 leadingftrom -the auxiliary reservoir to the opposite endsotV the pump cylinder are normally closed and this makes the fluid 'in the pumpand mot-or system entirely confined. jy,l opening upthese needle valvesN and having the vent Viopen, the

oil is free tomove up intothe auxiliary res- V'ervoirunder the influence ofthe pump and consequentiytlie vlamp willQnot-be moved.

This "may be desirable under some circumstancesand is a very convenient way` of permitting the light 10 to remain facing straight ahead notwithstanding the steering yof theV vehicle. j

Iclaim: I 1. Operating mechanism `for .a dirigible head light oit a vehicle having thc usual steering gear `and comprising ineans for. supporting the head light for rotation, a` motor ade l jacent the head light including a cylinder, and oppositely disposed pistons in the cylinder, means for transmitting t-he motion of the pistons to the head light including a lever having one end interposed between and ac- Y tuated by the; pistons and connected to thev head light, `springfmeanscoacting With the pistons forurging-.them-to engage'the lever,

a pumpfmounted on the vehicle and includ-v -ing-a'cylinder, oppositely disposed pistons mounted in the pump cylinder, lan actuating 'c leveroperated from the :steering gear and having oneend interposed between and en-l gaged lWith the pump pistons for actuating Y the same, spring means forurging'the pump Y pistons'to engage the'lever, and connections f l betvveen'the'cylinders. l 2. Operating mechanism for a dirigible headlight of a vehicle having the usualsteer f ing gear yand comprising means for supporting the head light for rotation, a iuid pres- Y sure motor operatively connected tothe headl light and operable When actuated torturn the head light, a pumpv mountedon the vehicle landvincluding a cylinder connected to the fluid pressure motor, oppositely disposed pisd tons in the pump cylinder, a lever actuated from the steering gear and driving the pistons and vspring means for urging the pistons to colact With the lever, said pistons having reduced ends whereby the amountrof movement imparted to `the' pistons from the lever is limited VvWithout limiting movement of the lever.

3. Operating mechanism forca dirigible j head light of a vehicle' having the lusua-l steering gear and comprising means for supporting the head light. forrrotati'om-a fluid c pressuremotor operatively connected to the :head light and operable when actuated to turn e the head light,- a pump .mounted fon the ve- 'hicle and including a, cylinder connected to the iuid pressure motor, oppositely disposed .pistons in the pump cylinder, a lever actu-y y ated from the steering gear andl'driving fthe pistons and spring means for urging the pistons to co-actvvith the lever, said pistons i having reduced ends whereby the amount of movement imparted tothe pistonsf'trom the lever is limited without limiting movement 'Y Vvof the lever and a stop for limiting themove.

1 ment of the piston following the lever under .and having a slot,v a driving lever having ay nature.

the action of the spring means.

' 4. In combinatioma dirigible'headzlight, a mounting for supporting the head light for rotation and .having spring biased Ameans for normally holding "the head light facing straight ahead, means for turning the'headv ylight including anarm i'iXed tothe head light pin co-acting with theslot, said arm having a ange engageable With" the pin When the head light-is elevated and turned vvhereby tion forense".` as a troubley light. v

Inwtness whereof, vI hereto attix my sig- 1 THOMAS- o. iLioLLinAY. 

